There's a big idea afloat to put 1 million new and returning bicyclists on the road next summer.

One Million Bicycles is a bike rally scheduled for August 9, 2009, in 300 cities across all 50 states. The participants -- cyclists like you and me -- will call for doubling expenditures for bicycling on the national and state levels and give away 1 million new or used bicycles to new or returning riders.

Portland's Joe "Metal Cowboy" Kurmaskie is driving this effort with the support of Congressman Earl Blumenauer and bike organizations and shops across the country.

Kurmaskie mentioned the nationwide celebration at his talk at the Seattle Bike Expo in March and launched it a couple of weeks ago when OneMillionBicycles.org went online.

Where will those 1 million bicycles come from? Kurmaskie suggests we merely choose one from the collections in our garages. As he says in the YouTube video, a bicycle is not necessary for the structural integrity of a garage ...   more »

Today marks the Ride of Silence that honors bicyclists who have died or been injured on public roads. It also raises awareness that we bicycle riders have a right to the road.

At last count, 285 rides are scheduled in 17 countries around the world. The slow, silent processions all start at 7 p.m.

If you want to participate, find a ride by checking the listings in the United States or international.

Lots of bike commuting news out there for Bike to Work Week. Just remember: you can commute next week, next month and all year, too.

-- The Seattle Times is offering a live online Q&A with two bike commute specialists beginning at noon on Thursday. Ask Chris Cameron (Cascade Bicycle Club) or Every Day (Bicycle Alliance of Washington) any questions regarding the routes of equipment in advance of Friday's Bike to Work Day.

-- Reuters goes to Taipei to report "Bicycle makers ride high":

"Rising petrol prices, growing awareness of environmental issues and the popularity of cycling as a recreation sport has fuelled a surge in demand for bicycles around the world."

The story goes on to report a 14.6 percent sales increase in European Union in past five years, as the US climbed 9 percent in same period.

-- Rails to Trails Conservancy lists its Top 10 ways to build a bike commuting habit:

1. Functional bike;
2. Helmet ...   more »

Today's "daily outrage" comes from Australia, where several cyclists in a pack of 50 slammed into the back of a car after the driver passed the group then stopped abruptly.

The hit-and-run driver later called a talk show to give his version.

Among those in the bunch cycling in Sydney were Olympic cyclists Ben Kersten, Michelle Ferris, Matthew White, Kevin Nichols and daughter Kate Nichols, who was injured in the 2005 car vs. bicycle crash in Germany that claimed the life of Amy Gillett and injured other members of the Australian cycling team ...   more »

Update: May 2, 2008 -- Why were they chosen?

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Two outstanding communities for bicycling on the Olympic Peninsula -- Bainbridge Island and Port Townsend -- have been named among the 11 new Bicycle Friendly communities by the League of American Bicyclists.

The others are Colorado Springs and Durango, Colorado, and Minneapolis, Minnesota (all silver level), and Arcata, California, Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlottesville, Virginia, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Oxford, Mississippi, and Sitka, Alaska (bronze).

Seattle cyclists are familiar with Bainbridge Island for hosting February's Chilly Hilly bike ride, above, when more than 4,000 bicycle riders take the ferry and jam up a 33-mile loop around the island.

Port Townsend, also a ferry stop on the Olympic Peninsula, is a destination for bike touring enthusiasts who enjoy stress-free rural roads. ...   more »

If you're a bicycle commuter, or would like to be, May is certainly your month.

Communities across the US are sponsoring bike-to-work activities in May to urge people out of their cars and onto their bikes. In many places that support evaporates quickly, but by then it's hoped that commuters have been inspired to ride their bikes regularly.

Many month-long bike commuter contests begin today. Other dates to remember are National Bike Week from May 12 - 16, and Bike to Work Day on May 16 (other dates in some locales). Check the League of American Bicyclists Bike Month Events page for local listings.

Seattle-based Cascade Bicycle Club is sponsoring events in May, featuring the month-long Group Health Commute Challenge, Vulcan Bike to Work Breakfast, May 7, and the Starbucks Bike-to-Work Day, 6-9 a.m., May 16, when 40 stations are set up around the Puget Sound to help bicyclists get to work ...   more »